Sep 18, 2025
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The Saginaw Spirit hockey team is now two years removed from its Memorial Cup championship team.
There are only a handful of players remaining from that spectacular 2023-24 team that won it for the first time in franchise history when they defeated the OHL champion London Knights in a 4-3 thriller on June 2, 2024, to claim the championship in front of a capacity crowd of 5,373 at the Dow Event Center.
That, however, is ancient history.
The Spirit finished 38-27-1 a year ago and exited the first-round of the playoffs on the short-end of the five-game series with the Erie Otters. Additionally, they lost a bevy of talent off that team with the likes of Michael Misa, Zayne Parekh, and Andrew Oke. Misa and Parekh were two of the top five players in the Canadian Hockey League. Misa, on the roster since he was 15, had a whopping 134 points (62 goals and 72 assists) in 65 games. Parekh wasn’t far behind as he tallied 33 goals and 74 assists for 107 points. He played in 61 games. Oke, the steady netminder, was Saginaw’s No. 1 backstop for two consecutive years.
Chris Lazary is now in his seventh season (and 9th with the organization) as head coach of the Spirit. He is the all-time leader in career coaching victories for the organization and boasts three West Division championships on his resume (2018-19, 2019-20, 2023-2024). And, of course, the 2024 Memorial Cup championship.
Lazary will be fielding a youthful but talented team in 2025-26. In mid-August, four icers from the Saginaw roster were involved in the prestigious 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, which features the top under-18 talent in the world in a tournament that has historically served as a launching pad for future NHL stars. Sixty players from the Western Hockey League, Ontario Hockey League, and the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League were sprinkled throughout the eight National teams.
The quartet included Dimian Zhilkin (Canada), Juraj Rausa (Slovakia), Levi Harper (USA), and Nikita Klepov (USA). Harper and Klepov helped USA garner the Gold Medal in a 5-3 win over Sweden in the championship game, marking the Americans’ first tournament championship since 2003 and second win in tournament history.
Harper, who hails from Tampa, FLA, tallied five points in the tournament, including a first period goal in the championship tilt. He is a 5-11, 170-pound defenseman and will be looked upon as a steady influence on the powerplay. Harper was Saginaw’s third-round pick in this year’s OHL Priority Selection. Klepov, meanwhile, is a lefty-shooting left winger. The playmaking 5-11, 160-pound Klepov is another Floridian (Deerfield Beach). Zhilkin, who played on the Bronz Medal-winning Canada team, is a native of Windsor, ON. The 5-10, 185-pound right winger had a productive season with the Spirit in 2024-25 with 43 points (16 goals, 27 assists) in 54 games. He has added 25 pounds from a year ago and now features a very sturdy frame. Rausa, the 16-year-old prospect, is a rangy 6-2, 192-pound forward and has played in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup for two years running.
Mainstays from the Memorial Cup championship team include veterans Nic Sima, Jacob Cloutier, and James Guo. Sima is a strong right winger who will more-than-likely line up on the first line. He is a 6-3, 195-pounder from Mississauga, ON. Cloutier, another right-wing player who complements Sima, is 5-10, 170-pounds and is from Ottawa, ON. Guo is an extremely steady blue liner who will be one of the Spirit’s top defenders. The Woodbridge, ON native is 6-1, 195-pounds.
General Manager Dave Drinkill made a key move in the import draft by adding goaltender Stepan Shurygin from Samara, Russia, who played in the Russian Junior League last season. In hockey, the crossbar is 4 feet high with the goal opening being 6 feet wide. Shurygin will take up the bulk of that area as he arrived at training camp at 6-5 and 200 pounds. He is the likely No. 1 goalie.
Vying for the back-up role are Kaleb Papineau (6-2, 190) and local product Sammy DiBlasi (6-4, 185). Papineau, who saw action in 23 games last season, is from Cochrane, ON.
The always-busy Drinkill was active during the early days of training camp by making two nice acquisitions with the likes of Miroslav Satan and Brody Pepoy. Satan, a left-shot forward, was a Washington Capitals draft pick in 2024. Last season the 6-7 Satan split time between the Sioux Falls Stampede and Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He finished the 2024-25 USHL season with three goals and one assist in 45 contests.
Satan also suited up for Slovakia at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship and other international play last season. He has played for Slovakia at the U20 (World Junior), U18, and U17 level since 2022-2023, recording five goals and 13 assists for 18 points in 52 International games. He is the son of former NHLer and 2009 Stanley Cup Champion Miroslav Satan.
Saginaw’s newest forward was born in East Amherst, NY. His father played over 1,000 games in the National Hockey League between the Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Boston Bruins between 1995 and 2010.
“It’s a club with good history and a great culture, and that’s what ultimately swayed my decision,” said Satan. “It’s been great so far. We’re working hard in camp, and I’m excited for the season to start.”
According to Drinkill, Pepoy was a free agent invite to their development camp in April and made an immediate impression on Spirit management and coaching staff, earning himself an invite to Saginaw’s main camp.
“Throughout camp and our exhibition games, he has gotten better and better and earned this contract,” noted Drinkill. “We are looking forward to helping him develop as a young player moving forward and we feel he will really grow within our system in Saginaw.”
The 2008-born Pepoy spent last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Elite 16U team. He finished the year just shy of a point-per-game pace, with 22 goals and 30 assists (52 points) in 55 games. Prior to his season in Pittsburgh, he was a member of Detroit Compuware’s 15U AAA program as well as the Oakland Jr. Grizzlies.
“[Assistant GM] Brian Prout did an outstanding job identifying Brody as a free agent player that could make our team, and he did exactly that,” said Drinkill. “Brian deserves a ton of credit for the work he put in to make this a possibility for Brody and the Pepoy family.”
A right-shot forward standing at 6-1, Pepoy is a native of Troy, MI. and becomes the fourth Michigan native on Saginaw’s active roster in 2025-2026. The others are DiBlasi (Saginaw), left winger Trevor Theuer (Clarkston), and right winger Liam Storch (Rochester Hills).
The Saginaw Spirit will begin the 2025-26 campaign on the road Friday, September 19 against the Soo Greyhounds. One day later is the home opener against the Flint Firebirds at the Dow Event Center. The puck drops at 7:05 p.m.
The San Jose Sharks announced prior to our publication deadline that they have signed Spirit forward Michael Misa to a three-year entry-level contract. Misa was San Jose’s second overall pick at the 2025 NHL Draft, making him the highest-drafted player in Spirit history.
Misa led the Canadian Hockey League in scoring with 134 points (62 goals, 72 assists) during his third season in Saginaw. Both his goal and point totals were the most in a single season in franchise history, and he took over the all-time points record midway through the year (currently 265). He was awarded the Red Tilson Trophy as the OHL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2024-2025.
In his draft season, Misa embarked on numerous scoring streaks, including a 28-gamer from Dec. 29- Mar. 6 (28G-35A—63P). His streak was the second longest in the OHL that year, and the third longest in the CHL. Misa had 46 multi-point games of the 65 he played, including 16 multi-goal games. His point total was the highest of a U18 OHL skater since John Tavares in 2006-2007, and his goals were the most of any CHL player in their draft year since Patrick Kane in the same season.
The Spirit captain was awarded the Bobby Smith Trophy as the OHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year, and was named to both the OHL and CHL First All-Star Team in 2024-2025. He was also awarded the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence prior to the draft, presented annually by the League to a candidate who best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness, and athleticism.
Misa was a key piece of Saginaw’s 2024 Memorial Cup Championship, contributing five assists in five games. He also won the Emms Family Award in 2023 as the OHL’s Top First-Year Player after leading his rookie class in scoring with 56 points. Misa won Gold with Team Canada at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, and Silver with Team Canada White at the 2022 U17 World Hockey Challenge.
Saginaw Spirit 2025-2026 Season Schedule
September 20 vs Flint – Home Opener Celebration & White Out / Magnet Schedule Giveaway
September 26 vs Niagara – 989 Connect Night - Honoring Local Non-Profits
Sept 27 vs Guelph – Oktoberfest (Presented by Prost! Wine Bar and Charcuterie) / Post-game Autograph Session
October 11 vs Kitchener – Ice Out Cancer (Presented by MyMichigan Health) / Post-game Jersey Auction
October 19 vs Flint – Pride Night (Presented by Dow) / Post-game Skate
October 24 vs Erie – 989 Connect Night - Honoring Local Healthcare Workers
October 25 vs Owen Sound – Spirit Warriors Veteran Night
October 30 vs Flint – Halloween & Mascot Hockey Game
November 1 vs Windsor – Education Appreciation (Presented by Northwood University) & Scout Night
November 2 vs Brantford – Robotics Night (Presented by Hemlock Semiconductor) / Post-game Autographs
Nov. 8 vs North Bay – Spirit Eras Night (Presented by University of Michigan-Flint) / Friendship Bracelet Giveaway
Nov. 22 vs Windsor – Military Appreciation (Presented by the Michigan Elks Association) / Post-game Jersey Auction
November 29 vs London – 989 Connect Night – Honoring Local Municipality Workers
December 13 vs Kitchener – Superhero Night (Presented by CAN Council) / Post-game Jersey Auction
December 17 vs Sault Ste. Marie – 989 Connect Night – Honoring Local Small Businesses
December 20 vs Oshawa – Teddy Bear Toss (Presented by GFL)
January 3 vs Sault Ste. Marie – Corteva Family Night Food Drive (Presented by Corteva Agriscience)
January 4 vs Brampton – Go, Gus Go! (Presented by the Go Gus Go Foundation) / Post-game Autographs
January 8 vs Kingston – 989 Connect Night – Honoring Local Youth Sports / Wallet Giveaway
January 31 vs Barrie – First Responders Night (Presented by Fisher Companies)
February 6 vs Erie – Kids Takeover (Presented by Covenant HealthCare)
February 7 vs London – Shocks & Saves (Presented by the Pulse3 Endowment)
February 19 vs Sudbury – Billet Recognition
February 21 vs Sarnia – Ice Blast & Credit Union Night
February 22 vs Guelph – Faith Night / Post-game Skate
February 26 vs Ottawa – 989 Connect Night – Honoring Local Chambers & Member Organizations
February 28 vs Peterborough – Hockey for the Homeless (Presented by the Rescue Ministries of Mid-Michigan) / Post-game Jersey Auction
March 14 vs Flint – Mental Health Awareness Night
March 18 vs Sault Ste. Marie – 989 Connect Night – Honoring Local Veterinary & Animal Care Facilities
March 21 vs Sarnia – Over Ager Night
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